Rachel Meyers, of Southbury, shows her dog, Juliette, a Bernese mountain dog, to judge Espen Engh during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to www.westminsterkennelclub.org. less

Rachel Meyers, of Southbury, shows her dog, Juliette, a Bernese mountain dog, to judge Espen Engh during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For ... more

Juliette, a Bernese mountain dog, lays on the carpet after competing in the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. Juliette is owned by the Meyers family of Southbury. For related coverage go to www.westminsterkennelclub.org. less

Juliette, a Bernese mountain dog, lays on the carpet after competing in the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. Juliette is owned by the Meyers ... more

Juliette, a Bernese mountain dog owned by the Meyers family of Southbury, sits in the benching area after competing in the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. Juliette served as a therapy dog in Newtown after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. For related coverage go to www.westminsterkennelclub.org. less

Juliette, a Bernese mountain dog owned by the Meyers family of Southbury, sits in the benching area after competing in the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. ... more

Rachel Meyers, of Southbury, kisses her dog, Juliette, a Bernese mountain dog, while sitting in the benching area after competing in the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to www.westminsterkennelclub.org. less

Rachel Meyers, of Southbury, kisses her dog, Juliette, a Bernese mountain dog, while sitting in the benching area after competing in the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on ... more

Colleen Sullivan, of Danbury, shows her dog Holster, an akita, during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to www.westminsterkennelclub.org. less

Colleen Sullivan, of Danbury, shows her dog Holster, an akita, during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to ... more

Dog are readied for competition in the benching area during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to www.westminsterkennelclub.org. less

Dog are readied for competition in the benching area during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to ... more

Handler JoAnn Freise White, left, and groomer Maria Agrinsonis readies Stormy, a giant schnauzer, for competition during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to www.westminsterkennelclub.org. less

Handler JoAnn Freise White, left, and groomer Maria Agrinsonis readies Stormy, a giant schnauzer, for competition during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, ... more

Bill Ofshlag sits with his bullmastiff Jagger in the staging area during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to www.westminsterkennelclub.org. less

Bill Ofshlag sits with his bullmastiff Jagger in the staging area during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to ... more

Spectators watch the standard schnauzers compete during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to www.westminsterkennelclub.org. less

Spectators watch the standard schnauzers compete during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to ... more

Spectators watch the giant schnauzer competition during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to www.westminsterkennelclub.org. less

Spectators watch the giant schnauzer competition during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to ... more

Handler Gabriel Rangel shows Abbey, a giant schnauzer from Greenwich, during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to www.westminsterkennelclub.org. less

Handler Gabriel Rangel shows Abbey, a giant schnauzer from Greenwich, during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to ... more

Handler Gabriel Rangel, right, shows Abbey, a giant schnauzer from Greenwich, to judge Paula Nykiel during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. For related coverage go to www.westminsterkennelclub.org. less

Handler Gabriel Rangel, right, shows Abbey, a giant schnauzer from Greenwich, to judge Paula Nykiel during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Pier 92/94 in New York City on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. ... more

NEW YORK -- Juliette, a Bernese mountain dog, might not have won any awards at the 137th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, but she's already a champion -- both as a competitor, and to the dozens of children she comforted in the wake of chilling violence in Newtown.

The pooch from Southbury was certified as a therapy dog shortly before the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December. Rachel Meyers, 13, whose family owns Juliette, and who handled the dog in the ring Tuesday morning, explained that after the family heard about what happened at the Newtown school, her father made calls to see what they could do.

Starting the day after the shootings, and up through Christmas Eve, Rachel and her twin sister, Danielle, along with their parents, brought Juliette -- or Juju as she is affectionately called -- to a grieving center set up at Newtown's Reed Intermediate School, where she offered solace to children, and some adults, still reeling after a gunman killed 20 students and six staff members.

"Some would read her a book, or talk, or just pet her," Rachel said, after showing Juliette in Ring 6 at Pier 94 in Manhattan on Tuesday, the second day of the dog show.

The girls' father, Adam Meyers, said the dog helped get children, who were reticent, to talk to grief counselors.

"At some point, there were kids who wouldn't get out of the car, so we'd bring (the dogs) to the car," he said.

Danielle, who decided to get Juliette certified as a therapy dog after an obedience instructor brought up the idea, said the dogs must be able to deal with a lot of stress, including harsh petting and loud noises. Juliette has also gone to nursing homes, and Danielle is hoping she can participate in reading programs at schools or libraries. Many of the competitors at Westminster, where more than 2,700 dogs are entered, are certified therapy dogs.

The Meyers family started showing dogs four years ago, when the twins were 9 and could lead the dogs as junior handlers. Adam Meyers said the family used to have Labrador retrievers, but they needed a lot of exercise, so he did an online search for "lazy dogs." The family now has three Bernese mountain dogs and two Saint Bernards, and travel around the country to dog shows.

Bernese mountain dogs are good family pets and perfect therapy dogs because of their ability to make people happy, Rachel said.

"I've had many breeds, but I think out of all of them they're the best to be around," Rachel said. "I love her. People love her."

Juliette, who will turn 3 in a couple of weeks, is particularly relaxed and laid back, Rachel said. She stood calmly as the young handler wetted the fur on her head and combed it back before going into the ring, where Juliette, along with nearly two dozen other Bernese mountain dogs, was judged on how well she represents her breed standard.

At a few points, while waiting outside the ring during the nearly half-hour-long judging process, Juliette lay down on the purple carpet, staring up as the other handlers and photographers buzzed around her.

"She kind of looked like a pillow because she'd be on her back lying there," Rachel recalled of the therapy sessions in Newtown.

While the girls can't talk about what the children said to Juliette about the shootings, it was difficult to hear at times.

"There were some situations (when) it was very sad," said Rachel, who also made crafts and played games with some of the kids. "I was about to cry, so I kind of walked away."

Giving back also helped the family heal, and cope with a tragedy that seemed to impact even people who lived thousands of miles away.

"I felt proud and happy that I could just do something instead of staying home all day," Rachel said.